UK Fans of the Day Want Thursday Evening Notes

Good evening, friends. It’s another beautiful day in the Bluegrass State and down here in Nashville, but apparently, more rain is on the way for tonight. Just what we need, right?

I’m out tomorrow as I head back to My Old Kentucky Home to spend some time with family and remember a life well lived. Before I hit the road, I figured I’d check in with some thoughts on Kentucky’s ongoing efforts in the transfer portal, the Masters, and beyond.

This is the last day of the Dead Period

Things have been relatively quiet for the last 48 hours when it comes to the transfer portal, but the news will pick up soon. Today is the final day of the recruiting dead period, meaning tomorrow, players and coaches can resume on-campus and at-home visits.

Kentucky already had one visit on the schedule. Sam Houston State guard Lamar Wilkerson is planning trips to Kentucky, Indiana, Auburn, and Ole Miss. Wilkerson is one of the top shooters in the transfer portal, totaling 109 threes this past season at a 44.5% clip. He’ll come to Lexington on Sunday, with conversations between the two sides picking up after Kentucky lost ground with Wesley Yates, who committed to Washington today.

Wilkerson is a volume shooter, averaging 3.4 made threes per game, which ranked sixth nationally, on 7.7 attempts. Hopefully, he likes what he sees in Lexington. Surely, we’ll get a Keeneland appearance, right?

The Nike Hoop Summit is Saturday

High school recruiting has taken a backseat to transfer portal recruiting this offseason, but at least two future Cats will show off their skill this weekend at the Nike Hoop Summitt. Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno will suit up for the USA alongside Nate Ament, the five-star small forward who is still deciding between Kentucky, Arkansas, Duke, Louisville, and Tennessee. Ament has not announced a decision date, but Duke, Louisville, and Arkansas are considered the current frontrunners.

Either way, it’ll be a big weekend for Johnson and Moreno. You can watch Team USA take on the World Team (which features 2026 target Tajh Ariza) on Saturday night on USA Network and Peacock (10 p.m. ET).

From Georgetown, Kentucky. Making his USA Basketball debut at the #NikeHoopSummit.

🇺🇸 No. 15 @malachimoreno24 pic.twitter.com/8l7O13NveK

— USABJNT (@usabjnt) April 10, 2025

CJ Fredrick is retiring from basketball

CJ Fredrick is hanging it up. The former Cat announced on social media that he is retiring from basketball after five seasons (seven if you include redshirts) at three different programs. Fredrick started his college career at Iowa and transferred to Kentucky in 2021 after two seasons with the Hawkeyes. He injured his left hamstring in mid-November, causing him to miss the entire 2021-22 season. After rehabbing, he played the 2022-23 season for the Cats before transferring to Cincinnati. He battled injuries with the Bearcats as well, suffering a season-ending back injury on Feb. 25.

Fredrick averaged 6.5 points (43.1% FG, 41.2% 3PT), 1.7 assists, and 1.1 rebounds per game in his career and 6.1 points (35.1% FG, 31.8% 3PT) and 1.5 assists per game during the 2022-23 season at Kentucky. During his time in Lexington, he met Kentucky Women’s Basketball star Blair Green, who went on to become his wife. That’s just one reason he’s grateful for his journey, despite all the adversity he’s faced.

“Man, what a ride,” Fredrick posted on Instagram. “This game has given more to me than I could ever imagine. I’ve truly been blessed to be able to play this game and go to places I have dreamed of as a kid. Even at its lowest points, it was all worth it. I will forever love the game of basketball and the relationships it’s allowed me to have for life. To all my teammates, coaches, trainers, family and anyone I have met along the way, thank you for letting me be a small part of your life. I hope to give back to the game that gave me everything. Thank you.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cj Fredrick (@cj_fredrick5)

Ken Griffey Jr. is enjoying retirement as a credentialed photographer

There are all sorts of retirement jobs. Ken Griffey Jr. has a pretty cool one. The Baseball Hall of Famer and former Reds star is now a sports photographer and was spotted today at The Masters. He’s working for Masters.com this week, with today’s assignment being taking photos of the honorary starter ceremony featuring Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson. Griffey has been a credentialed photographer at several other sporting events, including NFL and college football games, the MLB Home Run Derby, and even professional soccer.

Ken Griffey Jr. is at the Masters this year as a credentialed photographer pic.twitter.com/wnPaJ6LQNv

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) April 10, 2025

Ken Griffey Jr. has now photographed NFL and MLS games since being seen taking photos at the Home Run Derby in July ⚽🏈⚾

Today he was in Arizona for the Cardinals and Cowboys game

(via @AZCardinals) pic.twitter.com/uHHvnJ6oXC

— MLB Life (@MLBLife) September 25, 2023

Find something in life that makes you as happy as Griffey looks behind the lens.

KSR got into CNN today

We’ll end with a shoutout to this soybean farmer in Magnolia, Kentucky, who showed off his KSR fandom during an interview on CNN this morning. Regardless of your feelings on the subject matter, it’s cool to see the brand on TV.